PD Sessions @ Zoom: Countering foreign interference in the research sector: CSIRO's experience

Presented by the NSW Chapter of ARMS

This session explores the growing risk of foreign interference in the research sector, drawing on CSIRO’s real-world experience. It explains what foreign interference is—and how it differs from legitimate international collaboration—why it matters in today’s evolving security environment, and what it can look like in practice. Through practical examples, the presentation highlights common tactics, warning signs, and vulnerabilities faced by researchers and their organisations. It also outlines actionable steps individuals and teams can take to safeguard people, research, intellectual property, and reputations. Finally, the session delves into CSIRO’s broader security uplift, which strengthened resilience while maintaining open and productive global partnerships.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM AEST (Check your timezone here.)

Format: Online via Zoom

Zoom Access: Details will be provided in your confirmation email

Speaker(s)

Skye Keatinge - CSIRO

Skye Keatinge manages CSIRO's Security Advice and Assessments Team. She is an experienced national security professional currently delivering strategic security uplift in Australia's national science agency. Over her 20 years in the national security community Skye has developed extensive investigative and assessment expertise, specialising in identifying performance issues and delivering practical, security-informed solutions. She is passionate about improving the security culture in organisations, through effective communication, governance, transparency, and change management approaches. Skye lives on a sheep farm in central western NSW and is currently responsible for two children and a pet lamb called 'Chops'.

Facilitator

Dr Najwa Reynolds - HammondCare

Najwa is the proud co-chair of the ARMS NSW Chapter. She is an experienced research governance professional currently working in the NFP space. She has a passion for promoting positive research culture and practice and ensuring a high standard of research integrity and responsible research stewardship. In 2025, this passion took her across the other side of the world to Spain to attend the INORMS conference and present her research on positive research culture.

Using Zoom

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• We strongly recommend you test your ability to connect to Zoom prior to the session.

Questions

Contact the ARMS Executive Office:

•  ARMSAdmin@researchmanagement.org.au 
• +61 8 8201 5592